KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB211 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning elections.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning elections.

Education Elections
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Travis Holdman
Last action
2026-01-28
Official status
Engrossed Senate Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Indiana Election Changes

This bill allows candidates for certain temporary positions in local offices and on the school board to file their candidacy with either the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk, and it permits the cancellation of a caucus meeting if only one person wants to fill an open position.

What This Bill Does

  • It lets someone who wishes to be a candidate for a temporary position in local offices or on the school board file their candidacy with either the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk.
  • The circuit court clerk must send a copy of any declaration of candidacy they receive to the chairman of the caucus on the same day it is received.
  • It allows the notice for a caucus meeting to be rescinded if only one person wants to fill an open position in a local office or school board that belongs to a major party.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to run for temporary positions in local offices and on school boards.
  • Circuit court clerks and the chair of the caucus.

Terms To Know

caucus
A meeting where members of a political party gather to discuss issues, choose candidates, or make decisions.
circuit court clerk
An official who works in the circuit court and handles paperwork for legal cases and elections.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if more than one person wants to run for a position.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect current election procedures.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SB0211.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Mike Gaskill

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the rules for when and how candidates file their candidacy declarations in Indiana.

  • Candidates would have to file their candidacy declarations earlier than before, likely during a specific window of time set by law.
  • The exact timing and details of when and how candidates must now file are not specified in the provided amendment text, making it unclear without further information from the bill or additional context.
SB0211.02.COMS.AMS001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Mike Gaskill

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow for electronic transmission of certain election-related documents.

  • Allows election officials to transmit some election-related documents electronically instead of by mail.
  • The specific types of election-related documents that can be transmitted electronically are not detailed in this amendment text, so it's unclear which documents exactly will qualify for electronic transmission.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-28 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment

  2. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Referred to the House

  3. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 56: yeas 35, nays 10

  4. 2026-01-22 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Lehman

  5. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Cosponsor: Representative Wesco

  6. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Gaskill added as coauthor

  7. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  8. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Amendment #1 (Gaskill) prevailed; voice vote

  9. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Baldwin added as second author

  10. 2026-01-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  11. 2026-01-08 Senate

    Authored by Senator Holdman

  12. 2026-01-08 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Elections

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning elections.
Cancellation of caucus meeting.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning elections.

Cancellation of caucus meeting.

Allows a person who wishes to be a candidate for a pro tempore appointment to certain local offices or school board offices to file a declaration of candidacy with the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk. Requires a circuit court clerk to send a copy of a declaration of candidacy filed with the clerk to the chairman of the caucus on the same day the declaration of candidacy is received. Allows a notice of a caucus meeting to be rescinded if only one candidate seeks to fill a vacancy in a local office or a school board office held by a major party.